Abstract

The efficiency of using 7 indoor plants, which were Chrysalidocarpus lutescens, Ficus robusta, Sansevienriatrifasciata, Rhapis excelsa, Scindapusus aureus, Anthurium andraeanum and Pachira aquatica, for B·T·E (Benzene,Toluene, Ethylbenzene) removal were assessed at 1200Lux light intensity in airtight chambers (1.27m3). Rhapisexcelsa, Chrysalidocarpus lutescens and Ficus robusta were among the most effective plants, completely removingfor B·T·E within 38 hours, wherease Scindapusus aureus and Sansevienria trifasciata were the lowest in termsof removal efficiency. But when the removal efficiency was measured per unit leaf area (µg·m-3,-2), it was foundthat Scindapusus aureus, Anthurium andraeanum and Sansevienria trifasciata removed higher amount than Rhapisexcelsa, Chrysalidocarpus lutescens and Ficus robusta. Plants with wide leaves and a big leaf area includingRhapis excelsa and Chrysalidocarpus lutescens showed higher removal efficiencies of B·T·E than those withsmaller leaves such as Scindapusus aureus. Among the plants tested over 120 hours, the species that emitted thehighest levels of CO2, involved with photosynthesis and respiration in plants, Pachira aquatica (11,560ppm) wasemitting 10 times more CO2 than Scindapusus aureus (1,260ppm).